Bylaw on 'becak' not to be reviewed

JAKARTA (JP): The City Council has decided not to review Bylaw No. 11/1988 on public order which banned becak (three-wheeled pedicabs) from operating on the city's streets, saying that it would urge the administration to immediately provide them with new jobs.

"The door is already closed for becak to operate here in the city. The bylaw which banned the pedicabs is still valid," Council Speaker Edy Waluyo told reporters after a meeting with Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea at City Hall on Tuesday.

Edy said the council would further discuss how to provide the pedicab drivers with new jobs, to be arranged by the city administration.

Commenting on the program to change the vocation of the pedicab drivers, Jacob said his ministry would help the city administration to find jobs for the drivers.

"If they want to join transmigration programs or work overseas, we will do our best to help them," he said.

Governor Sutiyoso said on Tuesday the new jobs would only be offered to drivers who were Jakarta residents.

"For non-Jakarta residents, we will help them return to their respective hometowns," Sutiyoso said after receiving the minister.

According to City Hall spokesman Muhayat, only five percent of about 6,000 pedicab drivers operating in the city are Jakarta residents.

"They would most likely be given loans for working capital to set up small stalls in traditional markets here," he said without stating the amount of the loan.

Edy further said the council also suggested that the administration conduct public order operations in a more humane manner against pedicab drivers.

"The authorities should avoid a violent approach or actions that could provoke the people targeted in the operation to respond violently," he said.

Jacob agreed, saying that he also urged the administration to avoid violence during public order operations.

"They should avoid violence," Jacob told reporters.

Jacob, who visited City Hall to get inputs on becak problems, is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC) on Wednesday.

UPC, a non-governmental organization that promotes the rights of less fortunate citizens, is known for its role in coordinating thousands of becak drivers here. It had demanded that the bylaw be revoked and the pedicabs be allowed to operate in certain residential areas here.

The city administration has accused UPC of being behind the clash between the city's public order officers and the pedicab drivers in Roxy, Central Jakarta, last month, which claimed one officer's life. UPC has denied the accusation.

Jacob, who is also an executive of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-Perjuangan), urged the city administration to increase the amount of compensation of Rp 250,000 (US$28) each for drivers who hand over their pedicabs to the authorities.

"The amount of compensation is too small," he said, without mentioning what he considered to be an appropriate amount.

PDI Perjuangan's faction at the council suggested on Monday that the administration raise the amount of compensation to Rp 400,000 for each pedicab surrendered.

Meanwhile, Mayor of Central Jakarta said on Tuesday that the central Jakarta mayoralty offered 2,077 job vacancies for the pedicab drivers who are holding a Greater Jakarta identification card and wish to change profession.

The variety of positions offered by the mayoralty includes bajaj drivers and household helpers. As for those who are interested to begin entrepreneurship will be located at the Gardu Asem traditional market in Kemayoran, North Jakarta.

"The number of vacancy will suffice as there is about 1,400 pedicab drivers in Central Jakarta," according to the Mayor of central Jakarta Hosea Petra Lumbun, as quoted by the beritajakarta.com website.

Pedicab drivers who are interested may apply directly to each city administration without a third party. (jun/06)